Anchor mechanism



Fig. 2.

Inventor: Robert G. Anderson,

R. G. ANDERSON ANCHOR MECHANISM Filed Feb. 7, 1940 rfi@ March 25, 1941.

59 JVM/1,75. H is Attorrwe.

Patented Mer. 25, 1941 i a 2,236,281

UNITED STATES \PATENT r oFFlcE ANCHOR DIECHANISM Robert G. Anderson, Erie, Pa., assignor to Gengal Electric Company, a corporation of New ork Application February 7, 1940, serial No. 317,785

6 Claims. (Cl. 188-5) My invention relates to trucks, movable shipanchor against the iloor or other supporting ping containers and the like, and particularly structure when the mechanism is in its operto anchoring mechanisms for preventing acciated position. dental movement of such devices. Referring now to the drawing, in Fig. 1 I have 5 Containers adapted for shipping less than shown the lower portion of one end of atruck 5 carload lots are frequently provided with casters body or shipping container I0 having an angle or trucks to facilitate movement thereof into iron cross-piece II at the bottom thereof to and out of freight cars and transport trucks. which are attached wheels or casters I2 pivot- In order to prevent accidental movement of such ally supported in brackets I3. The wheels I2 containers which might be caused by motion of support the container I0 movably upon a floor of 10 the train or truck, it is desirable to provide some a c ar or other relatively stationary structure arrangement for anchoring the movable conindicated at I4. In order to prevent accidental tainer to the car or truck. Accordingly, it is an movement of the container I0 with respect to object of my inver-tion to provide an improved the supporting body or floor I4, I provide an anchoring mechanism for preventing relative anchor mechanism I5 secured to the angle iron 15 movement between a movable body such as a II which constitutes its base and having a foot shipping container and a body stationary with I6 movable into contact with the floor by opre-spect thereto such as a railway car. eration of a U-shaped handle I'I comprising a Another object of my invention is to provide portion of a toggle mechanism. As shown in an improved toggle operated anchor for prevent- Figs. 1 and 2, the two legs of the U-shaped han- 20 ing accidental movement of trucks, shipping condle I'I are pivoted to the anchor mechanism on tainers and the like, a shaft I8 and the handle is provided with Further objects and advantages of my invenbrackets I9 midway between the shaft I8 and its tion will become apparent as the following deouter end on either leg of the U. The'toggle scription proceeds, and the features of novelty mechanism is completed by a pair of links 20 25 which characterize my invention will be pointed pivotally connected to pins I9a in the brackets out with particularity in the claims annexed to I9 and to pins 2| on either side of the anchor and forming a part of this specification. mechanism. The two sides or legs of the U- For a better understanding of my invention, shaped handle I'I are connected by a bar 22 which reference may be had to the accompanying drawacts as a. stop limiting the movement of the 30 ing in which Fig. 1 is an end view of the lower toggle mechanism. portion of a movable shipping container provided The anchor mechanism I5 as shown in Figs. 3, with an anchor mechanism embodying my'in- 4 and 5 comprises three intertting concentric vention shown in its retracted position; Fig. 2 hollow cylindrical members 23, 24 and 25. The is a bottom view of the anchor mechanism shown outermost member 25 is welded or otherwise suit- 35 in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalview of ably secured to the angle iron II as indicated at the anchor mechanism taken on the line 3-3 of 26 and constitutes a portion of the base of the Fig. 2 andv indicatingin-dot land,..dash lines a mechanism.` The foot I6 is welded or otherwise position of the anchor intermediateits ,retracted suitably secured at 28 to the middle cylindrical l0 and operated positions; Fig. 4 is -apartial secmember 24 which is longitudinally slida-ble with- 40 tional view similar to that of Fig. 3 showing the in the cylindrical bore of the member 25 which anchoring mechanism in its operated position; acts as a guide therefor. The innermost cylinand Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line drical member 23 is longitudinallyslidable within 5 5 of Fig. 3 showing the anchor in its retracted the cylindrical bore of the member 24 which position. acts as a guide therefor. The base II is pro- 45 The illustrated embodiment of my invention vided with a circular opening 29 having a shoulcomprises generally a plurality of intertting der 30 providing an annular support within hollow cylindrical members relatively movable which is tted a washer or ring 3| having a longitudinally with respect to one another, one vIsl-shaped bracket 32 welded thereto as indicated .i0 of the members constituting a base and the other at 33 and extending within the member 23. The 50 members being movable with respect thereto by bracket and washer constitute a portion of the operation cf a toggle mechanism. A spring is base of the anchor mechanism and a ring or provided to retain the anchor mechanism in its collar34 is welded at 35 to the lower end of the retracted position and another spring is probracket 32 to provide an anchorage and support vided fcr limiting the pressure exerted by the for the springs, as described hereinafter. In 55 23. The shaft I3 vextends on either side of the anchor mechanism to provide the pivotal supports for the'U-shaped handle I'I. The U-shaped form of the bracket 32 also longitudinal movement of the shaft I3. When the handle I1 is pressed downwardly. the downward force is transmitted through the links 2l which move the foot I3 and member 24 downwardly againstthe force of the spring 33. The dot-anddash outline in Fig. 3 illustrates an intermediate position of the toggle mechanism, and Fig. 4 illustrates the toggle mechanism in its operated position in which the pivot pins Ila of the links 20 on the brackets I3 have passed overcenter with respect to a line connecting the pivot shafts I8 and 2|, the stop 22 of the toggle mechanism having engaged the outermost cylindrical member 25 which prevents further movement of the handle I'I. It will readily be apparent that the toggle mechanism will be retained in its operated position against forces tending to press the foot I6 upwardly. In order to limit the force with which the foot I6 is pressed against the.

floor or other support I4, I provide a'relatively heavy compression spring 42 concentric with the spring 36 within the innermost member 23 and engaging the collar 34 at its upper end and a collar or spring stop 43 welded at 44 to the innermost member 23 at its lower end. Operation of the toggle mechanism forces the cylindrical members 23 and 24 apart, the member 24 moving downwardly until the foot I8 engages the floor when further movement of the member 24 is stopped. 'I'he member 23 will then be urged upwardly against the compression force of the spring 42 which will thereby hold the foot I6 resiliently against the floor or other support and provide suiiicient friction to hold the container I0 against movement with respect to the floor. In Fig. 4 the spring 42 is compressed, the foot I6 having engaged the floor I4. When it is desired to release the anchor mechanism, the handle I1 is raised from its position as shown in Fig. 4 thereby releasing the toggle mechanism which is returned to its original position by the force of a spring 36. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the entire anchor mechanism is arranged beneath the container I0 so that no portion thereof projects laterally from the container where it might interfere with another container placed adjacent thereto. f

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a simple and rugged anchor mechanism which may easily be operated to retain a portable container or truck in position with respect to the floor on which it is supported. The arrangement of the hollow cylindrical members which act as guides during operation of the mechanism insures ease of operation and prevents the mechanism from becoming loose. and the compression spring may be selected to provide adequate force for urging the anchor foot against the floor without requiring the application of undue force by the operator.

While I have described and illustrated a par ticular modification of my invention, other applications will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art. I do not. therefore, desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described, and I intend in the accompanying claims to cover all modinoations within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An anchor mechanism adapted to be secured to a movable body and to be extended into en- -gagement with a stationary body t0 prevent rela- -tive movement between the movable land stationary bodies, said comprising a base member and a first movable member, said base member constituting a guide for said first movable member. a second movable member, said first movable member constituting a guide for said second movable member, a foot onsaid first movable member for engaging the stationary body, a first spring for retaining said first movable member in a retracted position with respect to said base member, a toggle mechanism pivotally secured to said first movable member and to said second movable member for moving said first movable member out of its retracted position against the force of said spring, and a second spring arranged between said base member and said second movable member for limiting the force exerted by said foot against the stationary body by operation of said toggle mechanism.

2. An anchor mechanism adapted to be secured to a movable body and to be extended into engagement with a stationary body to prevent relative movement between the movable and stationary bodies. said mechanism comprising a base member having a hollow cylindrical portion arranged to extend outwardly from the movable body and a first cylindrical movable member arranged within and movable longitudinally with respect to said cylindrical portion, said hollow cylindrical portion constituting a guide for said movable member, a foot on said movable member for engaging the stationary body, a first spring for retaining said.l movable member in a retracted position in said cylindrical portion of said base member, said first movable member having a cylindrical bore therein, a second cylindricalmovable member arranged within said bore of said first movable member whereby said first movable member constitutes a guide for said second movable member, a toggle mechanism pivotally secured to said first movable member and to said second movable member for moving said first movable member out of its retracted position against the force of said first spring and for moving apart said first and second movable members. and a second spring arranged between said second movable member and said base member and arranged to be stressed upon operation of said toggle mechanism for limiting the force exerted by said foot against the stationary body by operation of said toggle mechanism.

3. An anchor mechanism adapted to be secured to a movable body and to be extended into engagement with a stationary body to prevent relative movement between the movable and stationary bodies, said mechanism comprising a base member and three relatively movable concentric hollow cylindrical members, the outermost one of said cylindrical members being secured to and constituting a portion of said base middle member out of its retracted position against the force of said iirst spring, said toggle mechanism being pivotally secured to said middle member and to said innermost member, a second spring arranged within said innermost member and engaging said base at one end and said innermost member at its other end, said second spring being arranged to be stressed upon operation of said toggle mechanism for limiting the force exerted by said foot against the stationary body by operation of said toggle mechanism.

4. An anchor mechanism adapted to be secured to a movable body and to be extended into engagement with a stationary body to prevent relative movement between the movable and stationary bodies, said mechanism comprising a base member and three relatively movable concentric v cylindrical members, the outermost one of said cylindrical members being secured to and constituting a portion of said base member, the middle one of said cylindrical members being longitudinally movable within said outermost member and having a foot at its end remote from said base member for engaging the stationary body, a rst spring varranged within the innermost one of said cylindrical members and attached to said middle member and to said base member for retaining said middle member in a retracted position within said outermost member, a toggle mechanism for moving said middle member out of its retracted position against the force of said rst spring, said toggle mechanism comprising a shaft secured to said middle member transversely thereof and extending outside said outermost member and a lever pivoted en said shaft and a pivoted link connecting said lever and said middle member, said middle member and said outermost member having longitudinal openings for accommodating movement of said shaft longitudinally of said members, a second spring arranged within said innermost member and engaging said base at one end and said innermost member at its other end, said second spring being arranged to be stressed'upon operation of said toggle mechanism for limiting the force exerted by said foot against the stationary body by operation of said toggle mechanism.v

5. An anchor mechanism adapted to be secured to a movable body and to be extended into engagement with a stationary body to prevent relative movement between the movable and stationary bodies, said mechanism comprising a base member and three relatively movable concentric cylindrical members, the outermostone of said cylindrical members being secured to and constituting a portion of said base member, the

`middle one of said cylindrical members being longitudinally movable within said outermost member and having a foot at its end remote from said base member for engaging the stationary body, a first spring arranged within the innermost one of said cylindrical members and attached to said middle member and to said base member for retaining said middle member in a retracted position within said outermost member, la toggle mechanism for moving said middle member out of its retracted position against the force of said rst spring, said toggle mechanism comprising a U-shaped lever having both ends thereof pivotally connected to said innermost member and links pivotally connected to said middle member and to the sides of said 'U-shaped lever intermediate the ends thereof, a stop secured to said U-shaped lever for limiting pivotal movement of said lever, a second spring arranged within said innermost member and engaging said base at one end and said innermost member at its other end, said second spring being arranged to be stressed upon operation of said toggle mechanism for limiting the force exerted by said foot against the stationary body by operation of toggle mechanism.

6. An anchor mechanism adapted to be secured to a', movable body and to be extended into engagement with a stationary body to prevent relative movement. between the movable and stationary bodies, said mechanism comprising a base member and three relatively movable concentric cylindrical members, the outermost one of said cylindrical members being secured to and constituting a portion of said base member, the middle one of said cylindrical members being longitudinally movable within said outermost member and having a foot at its end remote from said base member for engaging the sta-'- tionary body, said base having a portion extending longitudinally of said cylindrical members within said innermost member, a rst spring arranged within said innermost member and attached to said middle member and to said portion of said base member within said innermost member for retaining said middle member in a retracted position within said outermost member, a toggle mechanism for moving said middle member out of its retracted position against the force oi' said iirst spring, said toggle mechanism being pivotally secured to said middle member and to said innermost member, a second spring arranged within said innermost member and engaging said extended portion o! said base at one end and said innermost member at its other end, said second spring being arranged to be stressed upon operation of said toggle mechanism for hunting the force exerted by said foot against the stationary body by operation of said toggle mechanism.

ROBERT G. ANDERSON. 

